INDEPENDENT AGRONOMY ADVICE + CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH

ECOPAR® PULSE CROPS DEMONSTRATION - VETCH

Yenda, 2014

2Ag Grow Agronomy & Research | Ecopar Vetch Demonstration

BACKGROUNDManaging broadleaf weeds in vetch can be challenging, with few herbicides registered for in-crop weed control.

Ecopar®, Pyraflufen-ethyl, is a relatively new herbicide from Sipcam, registered for the early post-emergent control of annual broadleaf weeds in winter cereals and pastures.

With limited broadleaf weed control options in many pulse crops, particularly vetch, Ecopar® could provide a practical option for managing these weeds in crop, along with other means of weed control.

TRIAL DETAILSA demonstration was established on 20th June, 2014 in a crop of Morava vetch at Nick Eckermann’s, Yenda, in conjunction with Sipcam.

The aim of the demonstration was to demonstrate to growers and agronomists the efficacy and crop safety of mixtures of Ecopar® plus selected partner herbicides in vetch.

The trial consisted of 10 treatments, as shown in table 1.

The herbicides were boomsprayed on 20th June at 3pm with 70 L/ha water rate and with mini drift A1 02 nozzles.

Environmental conditions at spraying were 16oC tempertaure, 55% humidity, 6 km/hr winds and 5% cloud cover.

The crop was at the 4-6 node stage when sprayed and the weeds were actively growing with turnip at the 6-8 leaf stage, milk thistle flowering, fleabane from seedling to 8 leaf stage.

Plots were not replicated, and were 12m x 150m.

Observations and assessments were carried out throughout the trial. These included a visual assessment of the percent weed control, crop phyto-toxicity and biomass reduction at approximately 7 and 28 days after treatment (DAT).

A summary of these measurements are shown in tables 2 to 4 in the results section.

A visual representation of each treatment is also shown from figures 2 to 10.

Ecopar® Vetch Demonstration

KEY POINTS

* Vetch has become a major part of the western cropping system, however broadleaf weed control is difficult with limited registered options.

* Ecopar® gave good control of the key broadleaf weeds in vetch.

* Some crop phyto-toxicity was experienced early after application but crops quickly grew out of it.

* The addition of the non ionic surfactant, BS 1000, significantly improved the efficacy of Ecopar®.

3Ag Grow Agronomy & Research | Ecopar Vetch Demonstration

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The paddock chosen for this trial was sown on the 7th of May and experienced a rain event immediately following the pre-sowing knockdown. This resulted in poor weed control and the development of a significant weed burden in the crop.

The Morava vetch was sown at 35 kg/ha with 40 kg/ha MAP

The season was characterised by a very warm start that resulted in good crop establishment and early growth. These conditions also favoured weed growth, so at the time of spraying for the trial some of the weeds present were very advanced.

The results showed that the best option for controlling broadleaf weeds in vetch was Ecopar® with the non ionic surfactant BS1000. This was followed by Brodal®, then Ecopar® with no wetter.

The extra crop damage caused by Brodal® resulted in a significant biomass reduction and given it is not

on label is not a viable commercial option.

Diuron, although an effective pre-emergent option in vetch, gave 100% crop death when applied post-emergent so again is not a commercial option.

Any of the Ecopar® mixes gave no significant extra weed control, other than BS1000. In some cases adding the extra mixing partners reduced the efficacy of the Ecopar®.

Although Ecopar® caused some early crop phytotoxicty and growth reduction, these treatments grew out of any damage much quicker than all the other treatments.

Using Ecopar® to control broadleaf weeds in vetch proved to be a viable option.

Post-emergent broadleaf weed control options are very difficult in vetch so the registration of Ecopar® should be explored further.

Table 1: Treatment list for the Ecopar® in vetch demonstration

TREATMENTSNo Product Rate (product mL/ha)

1 Untreated Control Nil2 Ecopar® 800mL 3 Ecopar® 800mL + 0.2% v/v NIS4 Ecopar® + Broadstrike™ 400ml + 20g 5 Ecopar® + 66627 400ml + 2000g6 Ecopar® + Skipper® 400ml + 70g7 Commercial standard - Diuron 900wg 600g8 Brodal® 150ml9 Brodal® + Simazine 150ml + 1kg

10 Brodal® + Simazine + Ecopar® 150ml + 1kg + 400ml

ProductsEcopar®, 20 g/L pyraflufen-ethylBroadstrike™, 800g/kg FlumetsulamSPA 66627, Experimental productSkipper®, 7000g/kg imazethapyrNIS, Non ionic surfactant (BS1000)Diuron, 900 g/kg DiuronBrodal®, 500 g/L DiflufenicanSimazine, 900 g/kg Simazine

Figure 1: Weeds at first assessment, 4th July, 2014

4Ag Grow Agronomy & Research | Ecopar Vetch Demonstration

Table 2: Percent Weed Control for Fleabane, Turnip & Skeleton Weed taken 4th July and 29th July, 2014

7 DAT 28 DAT 7 DAT 28 DAT 7 DAT 28 DAT 1 UTC 0 0 0 0 0 02 Ecopar @ 800ml 30 70 10 5 0 03 Ecopar @ 800ml + 0.2% v/v NIS 70 95 30 20 0 04 Ecopar @ 400ml + Broadstrike @ 20g 20 50 20 20 0 505 Ecopar @ 400ml + 66627 @ 2000g 60 70 30 40 0 06 Ecopar @ 400ml + Skipper @ 70g 20 60 40 20 60 707 Commercial standard - Diuron 900wg 20 100 10 30 5 408 Brodal 10 80 5 40 5 309 Brodal + Simazine 10 95 5 20 5 30

10 Brodal + Simazine + Ecopar 20 80 10 20 20 20

% WEED CONTROLTreatment No Turnip Fleabane Skeleton Weed

Table 3: Phyto-toxicity rating taken 4th July and 29th July,2014

7 DAT 28 DAT1 UTC Nil Nil2 Ecopar @ 800ml Slight Nil3 Ecopar @ 800ml + 0.2% v/v NIS Moderate Nil4 Ecopar @ 400ml + Broadstrike @ 20g Severe Moderate5 Ecopar @ 400ml + 66627 @ 2000g Slight Low6 Ecopar @ 400ml + Skipper @ 70g Moderate Moderate7 Commercial standard - Diuron 900wg Severe Death8 Brodal Very slight High9 Brodal + Simazine Very slight High

10 Brodal + Simazine + Ecopar Slight Moderate

Phytotoxicity RatingTreatment No

Table 4: Percent Biomass Reduction taken 4th July and 29th July, 2014

7 DAT 28 DAT1 UTC 0 02 Ecopar @ 800ml 10 53 Ecopar @ 800ml + 0.2% v/v NIS 40 104 Ecopar @ 400ml + Broadstrike @ 20g 60 605 Ecopar @ 400ml + 66627 @ 2000g 30 156 Ecopar @ 400ml + Skipper @ 70g 40 507 Commercial standard - Diuron 900wg 70 1008 Brodal 5 209 Brodal + Simazine 5 20

10 Brodal + Simazine + Ecopar 10 20

No Treatment % Biomass Reduction

5Ag Grow Agronomy & Research | Ecopar Vetch Demonstration

Figure 2: Treatment 2 Ecopar @ 800ml, taken on 4th July & 29th July, 2014.

Figure 3: Treatment 3 Ecopar @ 800ml + 0.2% v/v NIS, taken on 4th July & 29th July, 2014.

Figure 4: Treatment 4 Ecopar @ 400ml + Broadstrike @ 20g, taken on 4th July & 29th July, 2014.

6Ag Grow Agronomy & Research | Ecopar Vetch Demonstration

Figure 5: Treatment 5 Ecopar @ 400ml + 66627 @ 2000g, taken on 4th July & 29th July, 2014.

Figure 6: Treatment 6 Ecopar @ 400ml + Skipper @ 70g, taken on 4th July & 29th July, 2014.

Figure 7: Treatment 7 Commercial standard - Diuron 900wg, taken on 4th July & 29th July, 2014.

7Ag Grow Agronomy & Research | Ecopar Vetch Demonstration

Figure 8: Treatment 8 Brodal, taken on 4th July & 29th July, 2014.

Figure 9: Treatment 9 Brodal + Simazine, taken on 4th July & 29th July, 2014.

Figure 10: Treatment 10 Brodal + Simazine + Ecopar, taken on 4th July & 29th July, 2014.

8Ag Grow Agronomy & Research | Ecopar Vetch Demonstration

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThis trial was a collaboration between Ag Grow Agronomy and Research and Sipcam.

Ag Grow Agronomy and Research would like to thank trial cooperator Nick Eckermann for hosting the trial, and also providing assistance with the management of the trial.

Further contacts

Barry Haskins Ag Grow Agronomist barry@aggrowagronomy.com.au

Mat Ryan Ag Grow Agronomist mat@aggrowagronomy.com.au

Rachael Whitworth Ag Grow Research Manager rachael@aggrowagronomy.com.au

Scott Golding NSW (south) Sales Manager, Sipcam sgolding@sipcam.com.au

Figure 11: Untreated Control - weeds & vetch 29th July, 2014.